Police seize guns, knives and drugs during Luton operations

Firearms, knives and drugs have been taken off the streets of Luton after a series of proactive operations by Bedfordshire Police.

The force's Luton community team carried out a warrant in the Marsh Farm area of Luton yesterday morning (Monday).

A handgun and a sawn off shotgun were among the weapons recovered, alongside a significant amount of cannabis and more than £20,000 in cash.

Meanwhile officers from the Bedfordshire Police community enforcement team have continued to run proactive patrols to tackle crime in Luton town centre under Operation Metal.

Officers on Operation Metal on Friday (September 29) arrested a man in his 20s in the town centre on suspicion of drug offences.

A follow up warrant at his home address saw officers seize almost £5,000 in cash, drugs worth more than £3,000 as well as two mobile phones believed to be linked to drug dealing.

It means that across September officers under Operation Metal have arrested nine people, seized two knives, drugs potentially worth up to £60,000 as well as £7,310 in cash.

Inspector Mo Nasar, from the Luton community policing team, said: "We have seen all too recently the devastating impact that violent crime can have on local communities.

"Our officers and these operations are out in our communities every day to try and detect and deter the use of weapons, as well as tackling what are often the underlying causes of serious violence such as gangs, drug dealing and other forms of organised crime.

"We will continue to be relentless in our work to get drugs, weapons and criminal gangs off the streets – as well as working with our partners to help and support those young people particularly at risk of criminal exploitation."